Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 20: Sunil D'Souza, a native of Malpe near here, who has been engaged in fish trade since the last many years, has accused a person identified as Vikas Bhat from Udupi of defrauding him to the extent of several lacs of rupees. He filed the said complaint in Malpe police station on February 15.

It is gathered that Sunil used to work for a firm named MJF at Malpe. That firm had Peter Carnelio and Felix along with Sunil was partners. After they began to trade with a fisheries business firm named Combert Industries in 2017, Vikas Bhat reportedly bought fish worth Rs 23,71,950 from Sunil but failed to pay up the amount. Bhat had issued a cheque amounting to Rs 2,50,000 to Sunil on December 24, 2019, but it was returned by the bank for want of funds. Sunil D'Souza said that he has realized that he has been a victim of cheating in business. He has alleged that Vikas Bhat, presently stationed at New Delhi, calls him over phone and poses threats. He also says as that even when in Delhi, Vikas reportedly has registered case against Sunil and another person named Suresh.

Vikas Bhat

Suresh Poojary (left) and Sunil D'Souza

Sunil claims that Vikas has cheated poor labourers of Assam origin, as well as fish businessmen and the amount he has cheated runs into crores of rupees. He also has said that cheque bounce cases have been registered against Vikas at various police stations in the state including Malpe.

Sunil says that when the business transactions with Vikas began in 2017, Bhat's cheque had bounced but he continued to have business links with Vikas. He has accused Peter Carnelio and Felix of having been hand in glove with Vikas in this fraud. He said that cheating cases involving Vikas are coming into the open one by one in the recent past. Sunil, who wishes that the injustice faced by him should not be experienced by others, has urged the police to arrest Vikas and take suitable action against him.